Need Wisdom - Citroen C1 1.2 Puretech or Alternatives

[Eleu]

Hey all - I’ve lurked on this forum for a while but only registered recently and seldom post. I hope this doesn’t come across as one of those posts where the account holder wants info and saunters off without thanks.

The household needs a new car. My faithful friend of 12 years died in August and I’ve had a couple of loaners since. As my partner and I have been contemplating career changes, we are adopting a bit of a niggardly approach with this motor.

The budget is likely anywhere from £1.5-3k. I have a maximal overspend provision of £1.5k (in case something interesting/fun presents itself). I’ve been considering a Citroen C1 with the 1.2 Puretech engine as it’s small and a little bit more nippy than base Aygos/108s/C1s with 70 BHP. It’ll be used predominantly for round-town journeying (school run etc) but likely a little bit of motorway mileage as restrictions lift.

How is the reliability of the N/A 1.2 unit? I was hesitant because it ain’t a unit built under the Toyota umbrella. I’m also considering an older Yaris and an Auris (I can’t get excited about that). I’ve ruled out the Ecoboost Fiestas as the ones within budget are likely going to need a wet belt change and I’d rather dodge that bullet. It is a real shame that the Mk2 Suzuki Swift Sport 5-door is just out of budget (circa £6k for a decent one) as that would be a great all-rounder and grin-worthy for me.

I’m open to other suggestions (criteria below). Many thanks for your help.

• 5-door hatch
• Petrol
• Manual
• Known reliability (timing chain a bonus)
• Alloy wheels if possible (superficial dude that I am)
• Preference for 3-cylinder as I enjoy the sound more than 4-cyl
• CD player would be great.
• Lightweight and somewhat warm would be great.

[ZX10R NIN]

It's got four cylinders but it's a fun steer & just in budget;

Mazda2 Sport

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202103039...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202103089...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202102239...

Now this one is a bit of a sleeper & a good steer:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202102229...

Elite slightly softer but nicely spec'd

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202102199...

Alfa 147 Collezione

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202103110...

Megane Dynamique 180 suprisingly good steer

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202102259...

[ZX10R NIN]

Mini Clubman

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202103019...

[Spare tyre]

I10 / picanto

[Eleu]

ZX10R NIN said:

It's got four cylinders but it's a fun steer & just in budget;

Mazda2 Sport

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202103039...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202103089...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202102239...

Now this one is a bit of a sleeper & a good steer:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202102229...

Elite slightly softer but nicely spec'd

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202102199...

Alfa 147 Collezione

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202103110...

Megane Dynamique 180 suprisingly good steer

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202102259...

Much food for thought - appreciated. I hadn't considered a Mazda 2 or an older Megane. I will have to check to see what's available within reasonable distance. Clubman is a no-go though - it makes me wince every time I see it. Ha!

[Eleu]

Spare tyre said:

I10 / picanto

Thanks for the suggestions. Those are both somewhat on the radar as reserve choices. My youngest sister has an i10 and it's competent around town when I've driven it, although I haven't yet had it on a B-road. She does semi-regular jaunts along the M4 and hasn't complained about it. The upcoming i10 N-Line looks like great fun too. Alas, it's not going to be a viable option.

[Spare tyre]

Eleu said:

Spare tyre said:

I10 / picanto

Thanks for the suggestions. Those are both somewhat on the radar as reserve choices. My youngest sister has an i10 and it's competent around town when I've driven it, although I haven't yet had it on a B-road. She does semi-regular jaunts along the M4 and hasn't complained about it. The upcoming i10 N-Line looks like great fun too. Alas, it's not going to be a viable option.

Before covid I’d hire cars a lot for work trips, ie from airport to hotel to site and repeat

Always go with the cheapest option and have all variants of the i10 and picanto. Always impressed

Isn’t the n line just a trim thing and not engine ?

Buy a 4 year old Kia and get the balance of 7;year warranty, can’t go wrong

[anonymous-user]

Isn't the 1.2 Pure Tech engine a ticking time bomb due to the cambelt on early models?

I would pick the i10/ Kia Picanto over one of those any day.

[spanner10]

1.2 puretech is wet belt and change interval has been cut to 6 years/60000 miles I believe. Increasing reports of belt fraying and blocking oil pick up on 208s.

1.0 is work of Toyota and I would go for this engine all day in C1/107/Aygo. Yaris good but you need the 1.3 to enjoy driving it a bit whereas 1.0 Aygo is OK, sounds nicer, feels quicker , 50 mpg £20 tax and much cheaper to insure than Yaris.

[Eleu]

Spare tyre said:

Before covid I’d hire cars a lot for work trips, ie from airport to hotel to site and repeat

Always go with the cheapest option and have all variants of the i10 and picanto. Always impressed

Isn’t the n line just a trim thing and not engine ?

Buy a 4 year old Kia and get the balance of 7;year warranty, can’t go wrong

I agree - I had the opportunity to get out on B-roads in a 1.2 i10 today and it was a blast. Sure, the pick-up isn't rapid but it is a sharp little monkey. Very little body roll or understeer from my impressions. Carrying the momentum at 50-60 MPH is a pretty fun game and requires attentive driving. As for the N-Line, it'll have a different turbo-charged 3-cylinder engine putting out 100 BHP. It's a new model so it is ruled out anyway. Thanks for your input.

[Eleu]

Joey Deacon said:

Isn't the 1.2 Pure Tech engine a ticking time bomb due to the cambelt on early models?

I would pick the i10/ Kia Picanto over one of those any day.

I'm with you. Having had a chance to wring the neck of a '16 plate 1.2 i10 today, I'm leaning heavily towards one. Great fun. I think the kappa engine is chain-driven too.

[Eleu]

spanner10 said:

1.2 puretech is wet belt and change interval has been cut to 6 years/60000 miles I believe. Increasing reports of belt fraying and blocking oil pick up on 208s.

1.0 is work of Toyota and I would go for this engine all day in C1/107/Aygo. Yaris good but you need the 1.3 to enjoy driving it a bit whereas 1.0 Aygo is OK, sounds nicer, feels quicker , 50 mpg £20 tax and much cheaper to insure than Yaris.

This was exactly my concern when I wrote the original post. I knew this unit wasn't a Toyota-designed one hence why I wanted the expertise of the community on here. Thanks for confirmation my friend.

I still like the idea of the Aygo/C1/107 trio (and I really like the sound). However, I'm leaning toward the 1.2 i10 as it has a little more power, it's well-equipped and feels pretty stable on the motorway. The handling is great - I was very surprised.

[Birr97]

Older option and quite rare, how about a Yaris T-Sport?

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202103140132234?atmobcid=soc3

[Bomberharris]

I’d avoid Mini pre 2012

Same as Renault

Mazda 2 👍

[clockworks]

Eleu said:

I agree - I had the opportunity to get out on B-roads in a 1.2 i10 today and it was a blast. Sure, the pick-up isn't rapid but it is a sharp little monkey. Very little body roll or understeer from my impressions. Carrying the momentum at 50-60 MPH is a pretty fun game and requires attentive driving. As for the N-Line, it'll have a different turbo-charged 3-cylinder engine putting out 100 BHP. It's a new model so it is ruled out anyway. Thanks for your input.

Presumably the i10 N-Line will be using the same 3 cylinder 1 litre turbo engine that Kia fit in some Picanto models?

I've had my Picanto GT-Line S, with the 1 litre turbo engine, for 15 months. I bought it as a 6 week old demonstrator, with 70 miles on the clock. It hadn't actually done any demos. I paid £14k for it, with a deal on a service pack as well, so nearly £2k off list. I think the turbo model actually came out about 2 years ago, so there should be some secondhand ones available now?

It's a cracking little car, very "chuckable", and a viable alternative to the Up! GTi.
In "S" trim, it has pretty much all the toys you'd find on much more expensive cars, including heated seats/steering wheel, climate, nav, keyless entry and start, sensors and reversing camera, wireless phone charger, electric sunroof, etc.

Reasonably economical - I'm getting a shade under 50mpg - and the 7 year warranty is a definite plus point.

I'm so impressed with the Picanto that I've just replaced my Skoda Superb with a used Sportage.